Dr. Isobel M. FindlayCommunity University Institute for Social Research
Saskatoon Community Workshop18 August 2010
What’s in a CURA for us? What we committed to do How our application will be evaluated How we are strengthening our case Who have been added to the team How the research design is shaping up What can the CURA mean? For whom? How can we help make it happen?
A maximum of $1 million over five years from SSHRC CURA “provides co-ordination and core support for
planning and carrying out diversified research activities”◦ Continuing to work together◦ Sharing and leveraging resources and expertise◦ Developing and refining what needs to be done◦ Strengthening proven alliances and building new ones◦ Helping transform the governance landscape
An opportunity to reimagine how we can best work together to build on our successes, address ongoing challenges, and share lessons learned
Our overarching research question is: How do we create local community governance models that are comprehensive, representative, responsive, culturally appropriate, and sustainable?
The objective is to engage in a learning process to identify the best ways for communities to develop local community governance◦ To respond to complex needs◦ To support respectful relations and sustainability
The project is a case study of the Saskatoon city-region, with relevance for all communities.
Relevance and significance 15%
Research alliance 20%
Methodology and approach 30%
Team of Researchers 15%
Outcomes 20%
Formal Application
Partnerships and collaborations as the new norm Citizens demanding participation in local decision-making Overextension and inadequate resources Good governance and accountability For well over a decade, multisectoral initiatives in Saskatoon
and area have produced evidence-based strategic planning & policy
Opportunity to reimagine ways of engaging citizens to deliberate, plan, and manage diverse community resources impacting quality of life
Saskatoon is both unique and exemplary—and more than ready
…to facilitate partnerships between the university and larger community in order to engage in relevant social research that supports a deeper understanding of our communities that reveals opportunities for improving our quality of life.
Saskatoon Community Sustainability
InternationalIndigenous WomenCommunity Development
Social Economy Rural and Urban Communities
CUISR Strategic Directions
Faculty from 10 units across the University Community researchers representing 10 organizations Close to 30 community partners Advisory Council representing local, regional, national, and
international interests
Collaborators: Len Findlay, Aloysius Newenham-Kahindi, Don Story, Kate Waygood, Chelsea Willness
New partners: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; Indigenous Peoples Program, Centre for Continuing and Distance Education, U of S; Rural and Co-operative Secretariat; Saskatchewan Association for Community Living
Diverse collaborations Gender and cultural lens Range of disciplines and interdisciplinary practices
from the social sciences and humanities to fine arts Joint development of questions and approaches to
data collection, analysis, and evaluation to conclusions and recommendations
New models for co-creation, translation, and knowledge mobilization
Our research practice will itself be an important site of learning, relationship and capacity building, identity formation, and community renewal.
CasesUrban Aboriginal initiativesAffordable housing initiativesPoverty elimination initiativesChild/youth initiativesImmigration/Integration/Inclusion initiativesCrime prevention initiativesFood security initiatives Other initiatives
Advisory CouncilMembers representing different stakeholder groups and CURA partners
Management BoardCURA Co-ApplicantsCUISR Community-University Research LiaisonCUISR Strategic Research CoordinatorAdministrative Assistant
CUISRBoard MembersStaffResearch Personnel (undergraduate andgraduate students, communityresearchers)
ConsultationsNeighbourhoods, CBOs, citizens, Business, GovernmentMethodologies: Participatory action research, grounded theory, narrative inquiryData Collection Methods: Surveys, Interviews, focus groups, arts- and theatre-based, asset mapping
Knowledge
translation
Case StudiesCollaborative Initiatives Methodologies: Participatory action research, case study,grounded theoryData Collection Methods:Literature review, individual interviews, focus groups
Knowledge
translation
Monitoring FrameworkCollaborative process, citizenengagement, Quality of LifeindicatorsMethodologies: PAR, process andoutcome monitoringData Collection Methods: Surveys,interviews, focus groups
Co-Creation of Knowledge
Local Governance ModelFor Sustainable CommunityToolkit of Model and PolicyRecommendations
Knowledge MobilizationLocal Governance Model ToolkitArts-Based PresentationsConference Presentations“Research in Progress” SeminarsBrown Bag LunchesCommunity Engagement ForaCUExpoCUISR Resource CentreInteractive Online CommunicationsNewslettersMedia CoverageDirect participation as board members on key multi-sectoral committees andpolicy round tables
Research OutputsPolicy Reform and ImplementationEdited BookPeer-Reviewed Pub’sCanadian Policy Research Networks, Institute for Research on Public PolicyTechnical ReportsResearch SummariesConferences: Congress of Humanities & Social Sciences, Canadian Public Health Assoc, Canadian CEDNet, ANSER, CASC, Canadian Political Studies Association, CUExpo
Education and TrainingGraduate Student ScholarshipsGraduate Student Internships withCBOsCommunity Service LearningCommunity ResearchersCommunity Research SabbaticalsCommunity-University LiaisonCommunity/University CurriculumDevelopmentResearch Workshops
For the community? For your organization? For the university? For your household? For you?
Overall Quality of Life, 2001, 2004 and 2007
0.05.0
10.0
15.020.025.030.035.0
40.045.050.0
2001 2004 2007
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